8 Ways to Reduce Stress When Moving House

As the many who have previously moved house or sold a property can vouch for, moving house can be one of the most stressful experiences of a lifetime. For some, moving house can be an extremely exciting life event – starting a fresh, meeting new people and trying new things – for others, a relationship break-up, a financial strain or just the thought of organising and packing up your entire life can be a stressful and worrying period.

Here at Goodfellows, we have complied a list of tips and trick to avoid the dreaded stress when moving house. Here are some simple ways you can eliminate unnecessary stress and enjoy moving house to the fullest.

So, why is moving house so stressful in the first place?

You might have a preconceived idea that moving house is a stressful occasion; if you go into the move with this mind set, you can expect your move to be a reflection of your mood – negative, and inevitably stressful. By breaking the move down into small manageable chunks, you can stay on top of the moving stress.

In January 2018, Forth conducted a survey to understand stress levels in the UK and what the main causes of stress were. According to their findings:

• 85% of UK adults experience stress on a regular basis
• The most common cause of stress is money
• Other common causes of stress include work, health concerns, failure to get enough sleep and household chores
• Women suffer from stress for three more days per month than men
• Young adults suffer the most from stress, with 12 days a month impacted by stress
• In the East Midlands, stress is mostly caused by health problems
• In London, West Midlands and Yorkshire, stress is mostly caused by work
• In the North East, North West, Scotland, South East, South West and Wales, stress is mostly caused by money
• And, in Northern Ireland, stress is mostly caused by work & money

From their research, moving house is nowhere to be seen as a stress factor. Similarly, The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scales, places ‘change in living conditions’ at just 28 in the list stress causes. The death of a spouse, divorce and marital separation rank as the top 3 main causes of stress.

Let’s have a read of some moving house stress quotes to brighten the mood:

“Cleaning out the past, packing up the present, and preparing for a much better future!”

“Moving was a great idea until I started packing!”

“You don’t know what you’ve got… until you move”

“Home is where the heart is, even if you can’t remember which box you packed it in”

So, how can you eliminate stress when moving house?

1. Hire a reputable conveyancing solicitor

First things first, get a reputable conveyancing solicitor on board. A conveyancing solicitor will be responsible for handling all of the legal aspects of your property transaction. With a highly experienced, reputable conveyancing company you can expect a much smoother process, thus eliminating any unnecessary stress.

2. Use a moving house checklist

A moving house checklist can help you get organised. There are many comprehensive moving house checklist to find online, but we recommend class=”text-title”> this one . A checklist will help you sort and finalise things you might not have thought about before your move became a reality. Getting all your ducks in row can really help avoid the stresses of feeling unprepared or unorganised for your move.

3. Start packing in advance

Start packing well in advance of your expected moving date, this can help avoid those last minute mad dashes get things complete. We understand that not everything can be packed in advance, however, things that don’t get used on a daily basis can benefit from being boxed up early.

Packing in advance helps create a tidy and clearer house, and a clearer mind. During your packing escapade you may even come across belongings that can be thrown out or taken to a charity shop – letting you get rid of unnecessary items ahead of your move.

We have a few packing tips that may help with the process:

• Start from the top and work your way down. The items you use the least often are typically stored in the loft; start by packing these up and work your way towards the bottom of the house.
• Pack up room by room and label boxes accordingly. When it comes to unpacking boxes, it’ll be much less stressful if you have a box(es) dedicated to specific rooms and that have been labelled according to the room and the belongings inside.
• Pack out of season clothes and shows. Depending on the season of your move, there are more than likely clothes and shoes you won’t be needed for that season.
• Pack important documents into one clearly labelled box. For example, birth certificates, marriage certificates, driving licence documents and car insurance, life insurance and home insurance.

For a more extensive overview of packing tips, please view our guide to packing up your property.

4. Plan ahead of the move

One of the greatest causes of stress during a move is the lacking of forward planning. Stress can easily be avoided in you’ve got measures in place for all eventualities and an idea of everything that needs to be catered for. Things you may need to think about prior to your move:

• Booking time off work during the week of your move
• Hiring a removal firm in advance
• Finding pet care during the move
• When and how you’re going to complete a deep clean of your existing property
• Arranging a new school for your children if you’re relocating to completely new postcode or county
• Think about food consumption the week before your move
• Arrange for a food delivery to arrive once you’ve moved into your new property
• Make sure bills sent to your current house are forwarded to your new house
• Set up utility providers, Wi-Fi and TV licence to come to your new house
• Change your address on important documents and deliveries. For example the bank, driving licence, home insurance, life insurance etc.

5. Hire a removal company

Hiring a removal company can be one of the most important and helpful things you do during your move. Removal companies are there to help eliminate any pressure by taking care of the hard work and – getting all of your belongings from A to B. We are a full service removals company offering the following services:

• Lifting, loading and unloading of boxes from your old property to your new property
• A full packing service to relieve some of the moving stress
• A disassembling/reassembling service of your furniture
• Kent storage facilities for unwanted, and/or extra belongings

6. Recruit some more help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You might have already hired a removal company, but getting additional help from relatives and friends will be essential in eliminating any unnecessary moving stress. Friends and family can help with a number of things from packing, cleaning, providing child care, and pet sitting to name a few.

7. Get enough sleep and eat well

As previously mentioned, one of the greatest causes of stress is failure to get enough sleep. Make sure you’re getting plenty of rest and sleep during your move to prevent feeling fatigued. Ways in which you can do this is by taking regular breaks for packing, start packing well in advance so you’re leaving plenty of time to pack at a reasonable pace, and eat well to enhance your energy and immune system.

Also, remember to accommodate time to see your close friends and family. This will provide time to help you relax and relieve any stress and tension.

8. Move on a Friday

According to research, Fridays are the most popular for moving house. Moving on a Friday will give you the entire weekend to settle in without taking time off work. Although it’s sometimes hard to control which day you’re move will be, if you have the option, we recommend opting for a Friday.